Aurora Education Foundation commits almost $800,000 to international scholarships for Indigenous students

The Aurora Education Foundation (Aurora) has awarded almost $800,000 worth of scholarships to seven Indigenous students, in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements and commitment to continuing to give back to their communities.

This is the largest financial commitment by Aurora to Indigenous scholars since the organisation’s inception in 2006, driven by a surge in Indigenous students who are interested in pursuing international study and the generosity of the Charlie Perkins Scholarship and the Roberta Sykes Scholarships, which are delivered through Aurora.

This year’s cohort includes one Charlie Perkins Scholar and six Roberta Sykes Scholars, who will journey to the likes of Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard universities to pursue their educational and career aspirations.

Aurora builds a pipeline of Indigenous scholars through its International Study Tour – fully funded, multi-week academic visits to the top universities in the United Kingdom and United States. The Study Tour is designed for students who are committed to their educational and professional journey, with Aurora supporting students from the moment they verbalise their aspirations to their graduation from University.

94 per cent of students who apply from the Aurora Study Tour are accepted at these top universities, and four of the seven students to be awarded scholarships this year participated in Aurora’s Study Tour.

Aurora’s CEO Leila Smith said that by affirming Indigenous achievement, excellence and leadership, these scholarships have transformed education opportunities for First Nations students.

“12 years ago, an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person had never graduated from Oxford or Cambridge. Today, we’ve seen almost 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholars studying and teaching at these top universities.” she said.

“This year’s scholars, and all those who have come before them, are showing us more examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence looks like. That it’s not about a predetermined path, it’s about tailoring support to these scholar’s versions of success. At Aurora, we catapult Indigenous students to the best courses in the world for their goals, so they can come back home and make change. It takes courage to look outside of your comfort zone for opportunities to develop and pursue your aspirations, and I couldn’t be prouder of our 2023 scholarship recipients.”

This year’s scholars include:

• Dunghutti Gumbaynggirr woman and Charlie Perkins Scholar, Teresa Cochrane. Teresa has recently completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (Honours) at Charles Sturt University. Teresa currently works at the CSIRO in the Young Indigenous Women’s STEM academy as an academic co-ordinator. This year she will move to the UK where she will study a Master of Philosophy in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management at Oxford University.

• Nyiyaparli woman and Roberta Sykes Scholar, Karri Walker. Karri Walker graduated from a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University in 2015, before completing her Juris Doctor at Melbourne Law School in 2018. Since then, Karri has worked in the legal sector and most recently works as a Senior Lawyer at the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. She will go on to study a Master of Laws at Harvard University later this year.

• Darumbal woman and Roberta Sykes Scholar, Mi-kaisha Masella. Mi-kaisha is a current New York University student and is in her final year studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Recorded Music at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Mi-kaisha has a background of working in music at both the ABC and AIME, she hopes to support the continuation of First Nations arts industries through her work.

• Gija woman and Roberta Sykes Scholar, Naarah Barnes. Naarah graduated with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Voice from The University of Tasmania in 2019. Since then, she has gained extensive experience in the entertainment industry with a focus on musical theatre. With this scholarship, Naarah has her eyes set on a Master of Music Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in the UK.

• Anewan man and Roberta Sykes Scholar, Nicholas Harvey-Doyle. Nicholas is a student at New York University where he intends to use this scholarship, he is studying a Master of Arts in Media, Culture and Communication. Prior to this Nicholas completed a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws at the University of Newcastle. Through his study Nicholas would like to identify barriers to achieving diverse representation in media.

• Bundjalung, Gumbsaynggirr man and Roberta Sykes Scholar, Dakota Feirer. In 2020 Dakota completed a Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies at the University of Wollongong. Since then, he has been working at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney as Program Producer. Dakota will study a Master of Arts (Museum Studies) at New York University.

• Anaiwan man and Roberta Sykes Scholar, Connor Haddad. Connor completed a Bachelor of Communication (Honours) at The University of Queensland in 2019. For the last three years he has been working in Public Policy and has developed a passion for youth justice. Connor will study a Master of Public Administration in Public Policy and Public Value at University College London.